RR Tel is an extraordinary laboratory for spectroscopic studies of low densityastrophysical plasmas. Its optical and ultraviolet spectrum is extremely rich inemission lines which cover a wide range in excitation and ionization stages. ItsX-ray spectrum is dominated by a supersoft component at energies below 0.5 keV,but there is an additional, weaker hard excess. This emission can beenattributed to gas ionized by the collision between the winds of the twocomponent of the system, but the data available so far do not allow to draw anyconclusion. A good quality X-ray high resolution spectrum of RR Tel will becrucial to understand the physical processes that are taking place in thesystem, in particular in the collision shock of the winds from the two stars.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-04-14T12:14:50Z/2009-04-15T22:20:57Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Rosario Gonzalez-Riestra, 2010, 'Shocked gas in RR Tel', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-nghbmze
